06/27/2025
The Fire District and Proposed Property Tax Reform in Ohio
In conjunction with the Ohio Fire Chiefs Association, I as your Fire Chief, am sharing a preliminary informative statement of how Property Tax Reform Proposals will affect operations at Arrowhead Joint Fire District and what service changes can be expected if the legislation is passed as currently proposed.
The proposed Ohio property tax reform—especially House Bill 335—would significantly impact the Arrowhead Joint Fire District’s operations.
The Arrowhead Joint Fire District understands that our residents are concerned about rising property taxes, especially in the wake of large property value increases. This financial pressure has led to legislative proposals for reform. While these efforts aim to protect taxpayers, some proposals may unintentionally undermine critical local services. Many reforms have been introduced quickly without full fiscal impact studies or clear transition plans and if passed could result in unintended consequences.
In short, approximately 87% of the Fire District’s annual operating budget is derived from the Fire District Property Tax Levy which has been overwhelmingly voter-supported. While it is premature to identify the detailed impacts and associated timelines our citizens will face, a reduction in or eventual complete elimination of community-based Fire and EMS services provided by the Arrowhead Joint Fire District is almost certain.
The expenditure of the funds generated by this levy are meticulously scrutinized and provide for paid, on-station day-time staffing, equipment and apparatus maintenance and replacement, paid-on-call stipends for volunteers, loose equipment that firefighters and EMS providers need to do their jobs, and personal protective equipment such as firefighter bunker gear.
Below is contact information for our local legislators to express your concerns about these potential impacts.
State Representative Jodi Salvo
77 South High Street
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-8035
Senator Al Landis
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
038
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: (614) 466-5838
In your service,
Steven Wright, OFC
Arrowhead Joint Fire District
